News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2003

RECORD NUMBER OF EAGLES REPORTED IN ANNUAL MID-WINTER SURVEY

OAK HARBOR, OH - A record 304 bald eagles were observed in the state during the annual Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This year's count included 167 mature bald eagles and 137 immature bald eagles, birds less than five years of age.

“The bald eagle's comeback in Ohio and nationwide is a remarkable conservation story,” said Mark Shieldcastle, eagle biologist for the Division of Wildlife. “The bald eagle population has made incredible strides to go from only six eagles counted in Ohio's first winter survey in 1979 to a record 304 birds recorded in this year's survey.”

Observers saw eagles in 45 counties, another record, during the two-week survey, with counties along the western shore of Lake Erie reporting the highest number of eagles. Of those counties, Sandusky County reflected the highest number of sightings with 79.

Following Sandusky County, the next four highest tallies included: Ottawa County (20), Trumbull County (20), Seneca County (17), and Erie County (13).

Last year, wildlife officials reported 259 bald eagles in the winter survey: 147 adult eagles and 112 immature eagles.

“A small number of eagles observed in the survey were likely migrants from Michigan and Canada, but the majority were Ohio eagles,” Shieldcastle said. “As many as 200 of the immature eagles tallied are two- to three-year-old birds that have fledged from Ohio nests and are now beginning to seek out nesting territories in their first attempt to find a mate and reproduce.”

A record 107 eaglets fledged from a record 79 nests during last year's nesting season.

The birds were scattered across the state with 10 counties having at least one bird recorded. A remarkable 63 eagles were recorded at one location on Muddy Creek Bay on Lake Erie's Sandusky Bay during the aerial portion of the survey this year.

Ohio’s bald eagle population is centered in the western Lake Erie region. Muddy Creek Bay and surrounding marshes provide some of the best eagle habitat in the state, with good feeding areas and estuaries that are especially suitable for young birds.

Conducted across Ohio by state wildlife officials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinates the mid-winter survey on a national level each January to document trends in wintering populations of eagles in the lower 48 states, including both bald and golden eagles. Golden eagles are very rarely seen in the Buckeye State. The survey includes a standardized aerial survey and observations from the ground by field personnel, a team of volunteers, and observations reported by local residents over a two-week period.

Eagles were recorded in the following 45 Ohio counties: Adams 1, Ashland 3, Belmont 2, Brown 2, Clermont 1, Coshocton 2, Defiance 1, Delaware 6, Erie 13, Franklin 2, Geauga 7, Guernsey 3, Hancock 2, Harrison 6, Henry 4, Holmes 8, Huron 1, Knox 6, Licking 3, Lorain 3, Lucas 11, Mahoning 9, Marion 2, Meigs 2, Mercer 2, Monroe 1, Morgan 2, Muskingum 4, Noble 4, Ottawa 20, Paulding 1, Perry 1, Pike 11, Portage 9, Ross 4, Sandusky 79, Scioto 1, Seneca 17, Summit 1, Trumbull 20, Union 1, Washington 6, Wayne 2, Wood 9 and Wyandot 9.

The state's bald eagle management program is funded by contributions to the state income tax checkoff program for Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species and by the sale of Ohio conservation license plates including the bald eagle and cardinal plates. Contributions can be made by checking line 24 (form 1040) or line 16 (EZ form) on the 2002 state income tax form. The license plates can be purchased through a deputy registrar license outlet or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles toll-free at 1-888-PLATES3.